Court Grants Probe Into Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo’s Academic Credentials
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted permission for an investigation into the academic qualifications of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. The approval followed an ex-parte application filed by activist Mr. Emorioloye Owolemi.
Justice Binta Nyako granted the request after considering arguments presented by the applicant. The ruling allows Owolemi to inquire into the authenticity of the minister’s Secondary School Certificate.
Owolemi had approached the court seeking an order to investigate a certificate allegedly issued to Tunji-Ojo by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). He based his request on what he described as discrepancies in the minister’s academic claims.
The activist argued that clarifying the matter was necessary in the public interest. He maintained that public office holders should be transparent about their credentials.
Justice Nyako’s decision permits the applicant to proceed with steps to verify the WAEC certificate. The court’s approval was limited to the request concerning the minister’s secondary school qualification.
In a separate but related development, another judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja declined a similar application by the same activist. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik refused to grant permission for an inquiry into Tunji-Ojo’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.
The application was filed through Owolemi’s lead counsel, Mr. Philemon Yakubu, SAN. The motion ex-parte was brought pursuant to Order 34 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019 and Sections 1, 20, and 21 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
The applicant sought an order of mandamus to compel the NYSC to release information related to the minister’s discharge certificate. He had earlier written a letter dated November 17, 2025, requesting the details from the corps.
Specifically, Owolemi asked the court to direct the NYSC to provide documents concerning Tunji-Ojo’s service year in 2006. He requested monthly clearance records from the place of primary assignment where the minister reportedly served before an alleged abscondment.
The activist also sought access to the minister’s bank account details and financial information submitted during his service year. He further requested records of monthly allowance payments, including dates, amounts, bank schedules, and the accounts into which payments were made.
In addition, the application asked for official documentation detailing the date, nature, and status of the alleged abscondment. It also sought internal memos, queries, disciplinary reports, and correspondence connected to the alleged incident.
The request extended to documents relating to registration, posting, deployment, and other service records associated with Tunji-Ojo’s 2006 NYSC year. The applicant argued that the information was necessary to determine the legality or otherwise of the discharge certificate issued to the minister.
After hearing arguments on the ex-parte motion, Justice Abdulmalik declined to grant the application. The judge held that the applicant failed to demonstrate that he was acting in the public interest as required by law.
The court emphasized that applications of such nature must clearly establish a public interest basis. Without that, the reliefs sought could not be granted.
Reacting to the ruling, Mr. Yakubu told journalists that he would consult with his client to decide the next course of action. He indicated that further legal steps were being considered.
Yakubu stated that his client’s objective was to promote transparency, accountability, and probity among public office holders. He maintained that scrutiny of public officials’ credentials was essential to strengthening public trust.
The two rulings highlight differing outcomes in the activist’s efforts to investigate aspects of the minister’s background. While the court permitted an inquiry into the WAEC certificate, it declined to authorize a similar probe into the NYSC discharge certificate.
Tunji-Ojo, who currently serves as Minister of Interior, has not publicly responded to the latest court developments at the time of this report. The legal proceedings are expected to continue as the activist determines his next steps following the mixed decisions of the court.
